Pipeline shock African champions Prisons in third leg of KVF National league in Eldoret

By Oscar Pilipili

ELDORET, KENYA: Pipeline shocked African champions Prisons 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 26-24) in a match of the third leg of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National League.

This was Pipeline’s first victory against Prisons this season.

Fielding their best line-ups, Pipeline and Prisons matched each other point by point in all the sets that lasted one hour 22 minutes at the Eldoret Polytechnic on Friday.

Pipeline would then crown the victorious day with yet another success after beating Stima Nyeri in straight sets of 25-10, 25-11, 25-11 in a match that lasted 47 minutes.

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) needed just 49 minutes to see off newcomers Mount Kenya University (MKU) 3-0 (25-4, 25-7, 25-13) in the other women’s league match.

Blue Triangle dismissed Nyeri Stima 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-19) in an entertaining match that was hotly contested.

In the men’s category, champions Prisons underlined their status as local volleyball great after they beat Forest Rangers 3-1 (32-30, 25-27, 25-19, 25-23).

General Service Unit (GSU) maintained their 100 per cent record in the competition after they overcame Co-operative Bank 3-0 (25-8, 25-22, 25-20) in their first fixture of the day.

Ulinzi were forced to fight hard before beating a determined Kenya Airways team 3-1 (24-26, 25-19, 28.26, 25-23) to bag three valuable points.

But the military men had an easy task in their next match against MKU that they won 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-20) to remain unbeaten in the third leg competition.

Hosts Eldoret Stima failed to click before home fans after they went down 0-3 (22-25, 14-25, 20-25) against Nyeri Stima in yet another men’s league fixture.

Eldoret Stima would then drop their second match of the day going down 1-3 (21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 20-25) against visiting Prisons Mombasa.

Blue Triangle achieved their first victory of the third leg of the national league after they beat Prisons Mombasa 3-1 (25-21, 17-25, 25-17, 27-27) in their first match of the day.

Meanwhile, after the one-day league fixtures, the stage is set for Amaco International Volleyball that is scheduled to start at the same venue today.

The KVF national sports organising secretary Ishmael Chege indicated that all teams that participated in the league are expected to compete in the show that is sponsored by Africa Merchant Assurance Company.

Chege added that the competition features various category including clubs, universities, colleges and schools. Draws for the tournament will be conducted this morning at the venue.

Schools teams that have shown interest include Malava (girls) of Kakamega county and Cheptil (boys) of Uasin Gishu who both holds East African and National secondary schools titles.

Other schools are  Kwanthanze of Machakos county and Lugulu of Kakamega.